Zynga founder says developers have to park their egos and ‘be comfortable copying’ other games

June 2, 2026 - 21:51

Only a master craftsman copies what works instead of trying to reinvent everything. That is the blunt message from Mark Pincus, the founder of Zynga, who told developers they need to swallow their pride and borrow freely from successful games. In a recent talk, Pincus argued that the industry is too obsessed with originality, and that many studios waste time chasing novel ideas when they should be studying proven hits.

Pincus pointed to the early days of Zynga, where games like FarmVille and Words With Friends were heavily inspired by existing titles. He said the key was not just copying mechanics, but understanding why they worked and then improving them. "You have to be comfortable copying," he explained, adding that the best developers are those who can identify a winning formula and then execute it better than the original.

The founder warned that ego often gets in the way of smart design. Many teams want to change everything because they fear looking unoriginal. But Pincus believes that iteration, not invention, drives the biggest hits. He compared the approach to a craftsman who studies the masters before creating their own work. "Only a master craftsman will copy what works instead of trying to change everything," he said.

His comments have sparked debate. Some developers argue that copying stifles creativity and leads to a market full of clones. Others agree that smart borrowing is how the industry evolves. Pincus stands by his view, saying that the most successful studios treat game design as a craft to be learned, not an art to be invented from scratch.